Waters beats Bostic in DA race

Winning more than 56 percent of the vote, Mike Waters defeated Cindy Bostic in the Democratic primary for district attorney for the 9th Judicial District.

“I am deeply honored to be given the privilege of being elected the next district attorney of the 9th District,” Waters said on Wednesday. “I promise to work hard everyday to make this district attorney’s office the very best in the state. I will protect and serve every citizen in the district.”

No Republicans filed, and Waters is expected to succeed Sam Currin, who is retiring, following the November general election.

Waters captured 10,065 votes to Bostic’s 7,605. The defense attorney with the Perry & Waters law firm won 78 percent of the vote in Vance County, 68 percent in Warren County and 67 percent in Franklin County.

Bostic received 68 percent of the vote in Granville County.

Had she won, Bostic would have been the first female district attorney in District 9.

“It was a hard-fought race, but in the end my opponent campaigned harder than I,” Bostic said on Wednesday. “I tried my best to continue to serve the citizens of this district by prosecuting cases while campaigning for office. As I have often said, I am a terrible politician, but I am a good prosecutor. I am very grateful for all of the support that I received and truly enjoyed meeting very fine people of the four counties while on the campaign trail. I am blessed to live in the 9th District and wish my opponent the best as he begins his term in January.”

Waters said his plan to lower the dismissal rates for driving while impaired cases in Vance, Granville and Warren counties, which are twice the state average, contributed to his victory.

“The people on my campaign worked very hard to get that issue out to the voters,” he said.

For now, Waters said he has not decided what changes he would make to the staff in the district attorney’s office.

“I’m not at that point,” he said. “I don’t need to make a decision about that today. I am spending time on my own office and my own clients.”

As for Bostic, she does not know what she plans to do next.

“But there is much time to decide which course I will take in my future endeavors,” she said. “As much as I had hoped for a different outcome, I do believe that there is a plan for all of us. I just have to find a new one.”